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THE GAMECOCK ♦ Wednesday, June 26,2002 - 7 £)*“■ ttti H/TTAr THEY SAID IT CONTACT US "Ts H H, \/l I \ Isaac asimov: “There is a single light of science, and E-mailusatgamecockmixeditormotrnail.com ±±±J . to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere.” MOVIE REVIEW ‘Minority Report ’ lives up to author’s vision via Speilberg MINORITY REPORT Staring Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton ■kkkki OUt Of ☆☆☆*☆ BY TUG BAKER THE GAMECOCK When thinking of truly compelling crime stories, modern classics such as “L.A. Confidential” and “Usual Suspects” come to mind. When thinking of gripping sci-fi dramas that offer visions of the future, Ridely Scott’s “Bladerunner” is an easy choice. Both types of films exist in a strange world where they can be both lauded by hard-nosed critics and enjoyed by paying moviegoers. Imagine a film where both of these genres come together just as ingeniously as in the aforementioned films, and you have a summer blockbuster. Now, stop again, and imagine Steven Spielberg as director, and you have a blockbuster with staying power and critical acclaim. That film is “Minority Report.” Inspired by, but very loosely based on, a short story by sci-fi master Phillip K. Dick (who also wrote the book that inspired “Bladerunner”), “Minority Report” transports audiences to Washington. DC in the year 2054. Thankfully there aren’t any flying cars, but there are billboards that scan the retina of passersby in order to call out to them personally (“Hey, John Anderton, you could use a Guinness!”). Throw these in with jet packs, a computer that is operated more like a symphony than a keyboard, and tiny “spider” robots that can search an entire apartment building in under two minutes, and you can see how easy it would be to get lost in the innovative technology of the film. ' However, being the master that he is, Spielberg doesn’t use CGI bells and whistles to create the film; instead, he relies on the tried and true staples of story and character to move the plot along and carry the audience along for the ride. With the star power of Tom Cruise shining through, the audience is introduced to John Anderton, chief of the Department of Pre-Crime. “Pre-Crime” is the city’s way of controlling homicide by arresting the perpetrators before they commit the crime. This is achieved through the use (and misuse) of three “pre-cogs,” three humans with telepathic powers that allow them to see the future. Anderton is a firm believer in the system even when Danny Witwer (Colin Farrell), who wants to expose any flaws that the Pre Crime unit may have, brings the department under investigation. Anderton stands by the system until the next murderer pops up Tom Cruise stars as John Anderton with Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton in "Minority Report" a release by 20th Century fox that is based on the book by Philip K. Dick and directed by Steven Spielberg. PHOTO COURTESY KRTCAMPUS on the screen, and it’s him. Revealing any more of the plot would be a great disservice to anyone who hasn’t seen it. What can be said is that the twists and turns that the story takes always remain true to the world and the characters that live in it. To say that this is the “must see” film of the summer would probably be an understatement. “Minority Report" features fine acting and an incredible story and is brilliant in its design and poetic in its delivery. It’s a movie that combines action-hero trills with the mentality of a smart drama, in a way that only Spielberg could conceive. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com MOVIE REVIEW ‘Lilo and Stitch ’ cute, good step for Disney LILO AND STITCH Starring the voice talents of Tia Carrera and Ving Rhames ★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ BY CARRIE PHILLIPS THE GAMECOCK Disney made its legacy by creating touching, fun and amusing animated movies that appeal as much to parents as to kids. From “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” up through the release of “The Lion King,” the company had a monopoly on the animated feature film genre, but it floundered after that with the releases of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Mulan.” “The Emperor’s New Groove” was a step back in the right direction . after several years of Dreamworks taking over the scene. Disney’s latest attempt, “Lilo and Stitch,” is a step back towards Simba, while leaping into the 21st century. The movie revolves around a small alien named Stitch, who is the creation of the evil Dr. Jumba Jookiba. Stitch is about to be destroyed by the Galactic Federation because he is j a weapon of mass destruction, built to destroy everything that he touches. He escapes in a cruiser and crash lands in Hawaii where he disguises himself as a dog and finds a home with Lilo, an orphaned and friendless little girl who lives with her sister, Nani. Stitch is being chased by Jumba and federation officer Pleakley. They are charged with capturing Stitch, or Experiment 626 as Jumba calls him, and classic Disney hij inks ensue. Running within this plot is the story of Lilo and Nani. Nani, voiced by Tia Carrera, is working hard to take care of Lilo so that she won’t have to go into foster care. With social worker Cobra Bubbles, voiced by Ving Rhames, popping up whenever something goes wrong, that moment is approaching quickly. me ari leans uacn iuw<nu me classics too. The whole movie is done in bright, almost pastel, hues and big, bubbly shapes. The humans have big noses and big thighs, a thankful step away from the Barbie doll-shaped women of Disney movies past. The art reflects the general view of Hawaii: bright, lazy and happy. The artists used a watercolor approach for the landscapes and backgrounds, which accent the ♦ STITCH, SEE PAGE 8 PHOTO COPYRIGHT DISNEY ENTERPRISES. INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch” features the voice talents of Tia Carrera and Vlng Rhames.